Plant Encyclopedia

Espresso Kentucky Coffee Tree

Gymnocladus dioicus ‘Espresso’

Learn more

The Landscaper's 
Choice

AVN succeeds by helping you & your business succeed.

  • 6 Locations

  • Plant Experts

  • +100 years in the industry

  • +2000 Plants

Espresso Kentucky Coffee Tree, large tree with green compound leaves

Discover More Information On Espresso Kentucky Coffee Tree

Are you searching for a picturesque tree for your yard? It may be time to consider the rugged Espresso Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus ‘Espresso’). The Espresso Kentucky coffee tree is prized for its tropical-like leaves that provide filtered shade. If you want a tree that will fill out your large landscapes, then make sure to select the Espresso Kentucky coffee tree for your next project.

Plant Attributes

The Espresso Kentucky coffee tree is a grafted male and seedless cultivar. If you want the look of a Kentucky coffee tree with any seed pods, this is a great alternative. Its soft compound leaves and arching branches create an elm-like form. When the tree is young, it features a coarse appearance. Once the tree matures, this tree grows into a vase-like shape. This tree is one of the last trees to leaf out in your spring yard. Throughout the season, the Espresso Kentucky coffee tree has forest green foliage. The large leaves provide your space with welcomed shade in the summer. By the fall, the leaflets turn into a radiant yellow color. Along with the foliage, the rough dark bark also brings some excitement to your yard.

Landscape Use

The Espresso Kentucky coffee tree is a tough species that has seen a rise in popularity over the past few years. This tree makes an excellent selection for front yards, backyards, and parkways. This coffee tree creates the perfect contrast of textures with its rugged bark and chunky limbs. If you need dappled shade in your landscape, then these Espresso Kentucky coffee trees will delight throughout the year. At maturity, they grow about 50 feet tall and have a spread of 30 feet. The tree also has a high canopy with a 7-foot clearance from the ground. When the Espresso Kentucky coffee tree is used as shade for a sidewalk, you need to maintain those low-hanging branches.

If you need to line a street, consider the Espresso Kentucky coffee tree for those spaces. Since they are a seedless cultivar, you never have to worry about seed pods clogging up a sewer or causing hazards in the street. For residential spaces, the Espresso Kentucky coffee tree is the ideal choice for shade gardens. You might even want to pair these trees with perennials, shrubs, or other larger trees.

You can also use these trees to make a border in your yard. If you are looking for more landscaping ideas, you may want to create a natural grove. The Espresso Kentucky coffee tree is an attractive option in those yards that need a windbreak or shelterbelt.

Planting & Care

This durable shade tree grows at a slow rate. You can expect the coffee tree to live for 90 years. The Kentucky coffee tree flourishes in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8. When you plant this tree, it requires full sunlight. This tree can adapt to both moist or dry locations. Under average landscaping conditions, this Espresso Kentucky coffee tree should do just fine in your yard.

Since it is considered a drought-tolerant tree, it is perfect for a moisture-conserving landscape or xeriscape. This hardy tree can handle extreme heat, road salt, and air pollution. If you want a tree for those city landscapes, this is an excellent option. The tree is simple to grow, and it tolerates poor soil. Once you place this tree in your yard, it needs regular watering until the tree has established. Younger trees have minimal branching. You will not have to worry about pruning until it is mature.

You should watch out for any suckers that may appear from the roots. If you spot these suckers, pull or cut them from the ground. Other than that, the Espresso Kentucky coffee tree is very hardy, and you never have to worry about issues with pests or diseases.

Additional Information

Interested in

Espresso Kentucky Coffee Tree

?

If you want a large growing tree with a rugged appearance, you should take a look at the Espresso Kentucky coffee tree. During the summer, the compound leaves provide your yard with some tropical vibes. This seedless selection makes the perfect choice for a rural or urban landscape. It can also tolerate droughts, heat, and cold. In other words, you want this exceptional tree for your outdoor areas. At Arbor Valley Nursery, a Colorado tree nursery, we can help you find the right landscaping element for your space, such as the Espresso Kentucky coffee tree. For more information, please fill out the contact form.

Plant Features

  • Plant Type: Tree
  • Watering Needs: Moderate
  • Botanical Pronunciation: Gymnocladus dioicus
  • Deciduous/evergreen: Deciduous
  • Growth rate: Slow
  • Average landscape size: 60-75 feet tall, 40-50 feet wide
  • Special features: Tolerant of high pH, drought, and pollution
  • Foliage color: Dark Green
  • Blooms: Spring
  • Flower color: White
  • Flower attributes: Fragrant
Questions?

Interested in a particular plant or have questions?
Please don't hesitate to contact us via this form or email, and we will reply as soon as possible.

Message sent! Thank you.

An error has occurred somewhere and it is not possible to submit the form. Please try again later or contact us via email.